The Iraqi army has started moving an armoured brigade to the Makhmour frontline, its closest position to the city of Mosul that has been held by Islamic State group (IS, ISIS , ISIL and Daesh) militants since June 2014.

The army and affiliated militias have been battling ISIS in the Makhmour area for two months but the lack of heavy equipment - among other things - has impeded their progress.

Nawfal Hamadi Al-Sultan, governor of Nineveh told AP" The arrival of these forces is aimed at reinforcing the Nineveh Operations Command under the command of General Najim Al-Jibouri. It is also to reinforce the 15th division and its an indication, it overlaps with the victories of our heroic forces in Anbar province and specifically in Fallujah. And this will overlap with the liberation of Nineveh governorate."

Battle tanks as well as armoured vehicles were seen arriving at the main Iraqi army base outside Makhmour on Sunday evening.

The Iraqi army is currently besieging the city of Fallujah in the south, another IS stronghold.